1st investment + No hot water + Leaky ceiling = FUN TIMES..

1st investment + No hot water + Leaky ceiling = FUN TIMES..

RN · Houston, TX · Member since 2015 · 69 posts · 29 votes

Hey Bp's, Just a little background. Closed on my VERY FIRST deal on 1/4/16. A beautiful, fairly new duplex (built in 2007). We are house hacking one unit and renting the other. Both sides rent for $1275. Price- 170k. I promise to post more deets on the deal when I come up for air.

So on day of inspection there were a few problems worth addressing, including a very small leak from the attic into the upstairs bathroom (it just so happen to be raining on day of inspection) that turned out to be a half dollar size hole in the roof (per inspector). No biggie, we got a roofer out to inspect, he quotes $400 stating its just a vent that "slipped" out of place. Seller agrees to credit $400 on close.

Seller then decides to "fix vent" prior to close but never gave us time to get someone back out there to verify so we still collected the $400 credit.

Fast forward to this Saturday, it rained cats and dogs here in Houston, and what do we have????? A LEAKY ROOF. I have the same roofer coming out to look at it on Tuesday and hopefully it's just a patch job. I don't think its just a  "slipped vent".  I crawled and wiggled my way to the hole and could visibly see a place where the roof caves in as if something fell through there. It is small but it is there. Hopefully I'm wrong but let us keep our finger crossed its nothing major

Next problem. Day of inspection, hot water. Day of move in, NO HOT WATER. So I google "causes of no hot water" , watch some videos and run out to buy a digital multimeter. First thing I did was reset the circuit breaker, still no hot water so I hit the red reset button on the upper element. Still nothing. My new little gadget confirmed there was no power going to the hot water heater (Its an electric hot water heater). At this point I call GE to check if it was still under warranty. Yayy it is, until June 2016 but for parts only, no labor. Bummer :( I also got them to walk me through diagnostics to be sure I even used my new toy correctly and we confirmed for sure there is no power to the hot water heater. So now Im guessing my next step is to hire an electrician to check the wiring or my circuit breaker. Any similar issues out there, What was the cause?

Any advice would be appreciated.

1Reply
31 views

9 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Rental Property Investor · Rockwall, TX · Member since 2015 · 891 posts · 701 votes
    10y

    @Denita Ozenne

    Welcome to BP!

    Congrats on your first purchase! Its common to have issues pop up like this during the purchase of a new rental property, so don't lose your cool. If there is no power going to the hot water heater but the rest of the house has power, it is possible that the circuit breaker has failed. You can check this at the panel, but unless you are comfortable doing it, I would hire an electrician. Working with electricity can be very dangerous, if you aren't very careful. 

    -Christopher

  • Investor · PA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 602 votes
    10y

    Pop in a new circuit breaker, it's easy. Just make sure power is off.  It's also easy to replace the heating elements or the water heater itself.

  • RN · Houston, TX · Member since 2015 · 69 posts · 29 votes
    10y

    @Christopher Brainard Thanks, and I was a bit frustrated finding this out while trying to move in and unpack, but hey no one said it would be easy. I'm having fun learning, it'll serve me well for my future rentals. So....How would I check the circuit breaker at the panel?

  • RN · Houston, TX · Member since 2015 · 69 posts · 29 votes
    10y

    @Jassem A.You make it sound so easy lol. Ok,  so what all do I need to do? Can you give me a short and sweet walk through orrrr lengthy and detailed. Id appreciate either lol :)

  • Rental Property Investor · Rockwall, TX · Member since 2015 · 891 posts · 701 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Denita Ozenne:

    @Christopher Brainard Thanks, and I was a bit frustrated finding this out while trying to move in and unpack, but hey no one said it would be easy. I'm having fun learning, it'll serve me well for my future rentals. So....How would I check the circuit breaker at the panel?

    You tube has a bunch of videos on how to check/replace breakers, but again, this is dangerous as the panel is most likely going to be hot when you do the swap. The multi meter you have can be used to check the circuit breaker to see if its working, just take a look at the output voltage on the breaker. 

    -Christopher

  • Investor · PA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 602 votes
    10y

    @Denita Ozenne

    1) Turn off main breaker 

    2) Take off panel cover using flat head screwdriver

    3) Locate 2 wires going to water heater breaker and unscrew them from breaker

    4) Remove breaker and take to Lowes or Home depot to find a matching replacement

  • RN · Houston, TX · Member since 2015 · 69 posts · 29 votes
    10y

    @Christopher BrainardI started watching youtube videos the second you guys commented. It does look fairly simple to at least test the circuit breaker so Ill start there. I wont do anything Im not sure on. Thank you

    @Jassem A.Thanks so much. Im watching videos now for a visual of what you explained. I really appreciate it.

  • Norfolk, VA · Member since 2015 · 6 posts · 0 votes
    10y

    hay Denita

       if the barker in the panel dose not work or issues are not fixed after installing a new braker    

     some times the water heater too,  has a thermostat that has a braker that will pop (not being phased in right  or wired right.  the wires wood get hot , and still pop. at the water heater

               I have had this problem working for a home investor as a hand man ..   when the wires leading to the thermostat to the hot water heater got to hot , it would pop and not perduse hot water ..

    KEEP ALL RESEATS

  • Real Estate Broker · Windsor, CT · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 268 votes
    10y

    @Jassem A. Great advice!

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.